A Chicago man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in federal court on Thursday, following the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy workers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. Elias Rodriguez, 30, is accused of opening fire on a group leaving an event for young diplomats hosted by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group supporting Israel and fighting antisemitism.
The victims were identified as Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, a young couple reportedly on the verge of engagement. Friends and advocacy groups described the pair as committed to fostering understanding between Arabs and Jews.
READ: Chicago Man Chanted ‘Free, Free Palestine,’ Kills 2 Israeli Embassy Staffers At D.C. Jewish Museum
In addition to first-degree murder, Rodriguez faces charges of murder of foreign officials, causing death with a firearm, and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence. These federal charges come as FBI and police investigators scrutinize apparent writings and political affiliations of the suspect.
Witnesses reported hearing Rodriguez chant “Free Palestine” after he was taken into custody. This aligns with a manifesto signed with Rodriguez’s name, titled “Escalate For Gaza, Bring The War Home,” which was posted on an anonymous X account shortly before the shooting. The document condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and discussed the morality of “armed” action.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed that investigators are “aware of certain writings allegedly authored by the suspect” and are working to verify their authenticity. FBI Director Kash Patel referred to the bloodshed as an “act of terror,” though U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated authorities believe the suspect acted alone.
READ: “Horrific Scene”: AG Bondi Vows Full Prosecution After Deadly Shooting Outside Jewish Museum
Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith detailed that Rodriguez was seen pacing outside the museum before shooting at a group of four people with a handgun, hitting the two victims. After his arrest, he identified where he discarded the weapon, which has since been recovered. Smith added that Rodriguez had no prior contact with police.
Investigators are also exploring Rodriguez’s apparent political affiliations. The Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) stated on X that Rodriguez had a brief association with a PSL branch that ended in 2017, and they condemned the shooting. Rodriguez was also identified in a 2018 local news report as a member of the Chicago branch of ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), a group that has organized demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinians.
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Rodriguez was an employee at the healthcare nonprofit American Osteopathic Information Association (AOIA), which expressed shock and sympathy for the victims. He had also worked as an oral history researcher at The HistoryMakers, a nonprofit preserving African American stories, according to a now-deleted biography. Rodriguez was born and raised in Chicago and graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago with an English degree.
The shooting has drawn strong condemnation from both U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. President Trump called the killings “horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism,” and stated, “Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed heartbreak for the victims’ families, calling the act “abhorrent antisemitic murderer” and emphasizing the need to fight “antisemitism and wild incitement against the State of Israel.”
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